Hmm, I think the opposite. There's developing a bit of a consensus that the way to win international tournaments is to be functional, with Uruguay taking the Copa America and Zambia taking the ACON. At club level the Mourinho-era blanket defences are struggling to deal with fluid modern attacks but international teams can't develop the kind of understanding that club teams can. Especially since the overwhelming public pressure is usually to pick the best player in each "position" with no real consideration of how they'll combine.

Yeah I would not disagree with any of this and as I say it is in hope rather than expectation but hope I will continue to do until it is dashed.

van Persie calling for anything, theres gonna be a stonewall pen they don't get due to his cry wolf tactics.

Fact is whenever they get it out wide, there is no-one in the box

"All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusions is called a philosopher." - Ambrose Bierce

Langeveldt: I of course blame their parents.. and unchecked immigration!GingerFurball: He's Austrian, they tend to produce the odd ****ed up individualBurgey: Be careful dealing with neighbours whose cars don't have wheels but whose houses do.Uppercut: Maybe I just need better strippers

"The PFA does not represent players when they have broken the law and been convicted on non-football matters."- Gordon Taylor in 2009 following Marlon King's release after a prison sentence for sexual assault & ABH

For maximum schadenfreude I think an early humiliating Germany exit and a tearful Ronaldo during a dramatic Portugal defeat in a knockout game would be the plan - the latter part would be pretty likely if they made it through their group.